A 16-STOREY residential apartment complex and a 10-storey hotel with a wellness centre and food and retail precinct have been proposed in the Hervey Bay City Centre across from Seafront Oval.
Acting Fraser Coast Regional Council CEO Gerard Carlyon said Council sought expressions of interest to buy and develop Council-owned land at 7-19 Hillyard Street in Pialba, and recently accepted a $5 million tender from HBC Build Australia, subject to conditions.
“Council bought land in Hillyard Street in Pialba in 2019 for $3.4 million as a potential site for a new administration centre but subsequently decided to co-locate the new administration centre with a new library on the corner of Main Street and Torquay Road,” he said.
“The Hillyard Street land is in a strategically important location, which is why Council sought proposals for the site that would help revitalise the Hervey Bay City Centre, leverage the benefits that flow from the new Council building, and deliver on the 20-year master plan for the area.”
HBC Build Australia proposes building a 10-storey rooms and a 16-storey Sunlife over 50s complex with 150 apartments, along with a wellness centre, multi-purpose conference room, restaurant and bar, and food and retail precinct.
Mr Carlyon said Council would now seek to negotiate a development lease agreement with HBC Build, under which Council would still own the land until the contract conditions are met.
“This is the first of several steps before a land transfer can take place, and the hotel and apartment complex proposal will still need to go through the development application process and be assessed by Council,” he said.
“Council shortlisted three tenderers and HBC Build Australia demonstrated a thorough understanding of the project and a capability and readiness to deliver.
“This is an important parcel of land, and we want it developed in a way that provides maximum social and economic benefits for the Fraser Coast.
“A revitalised city centre will ensure Hervey Bay has a flourishing local economy and can compete at a state and national level for new business and industry, tourism expenditure and skilled workers.
“A key objective of Council’s Corporate Plan is to encourage business and investment to grow a diversified economy, and that’s what we are looking to achieve with the sale of this land.”
